The Federal Aviation Administration said that a Spirit Airlines flight from Florida was hit by gunfire while trying to land in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday and diverted to the neighboring country of the Dominican Republic. The FAA said in a statement that two other flights bound for Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport were diverted as a precaution.
Spirit Airlines Flight 951 took off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, just north of Miami, on Monday morning, bound for Port-au-Prince. According to data on FlightRadar24, the plane came within 550 feet of the runway before aborting its landing; the flight flew over parts of Haiti and circled around Port-au-Prince before diverting to Cibao International Airport in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Spirit Airlines said in a statement Monday that the plane “diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic,” adding that none of the 48 passengers reported injuries, and one flight attendant onboard the plane reported unspecified “minor injuries” and was undergoing medical evaluation. The airline statement continued to say that after the plane arrived in the Dominican Republic, “an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire.” The plane was taken out of service and a different aircraft was secured to return the passengers and crew to Fort Lauderdale.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said in a security alert Monday it was aware of “gang-led efforts” to block travel to and from the capital that may include “armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports. The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. Travel within Haiti is conducted at your own risk. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti.”
Spirit said its service at Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti was suspended “pending further evaluation.” Additionally, American Airlines said it was suspending flights between Miami and Port-au-Prince through Thursday with the airline stating “we will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” while JetBlue canceled its flights to and from Haiti through Thursday as well, issuing a similar statement: “We will continue to monitor the situation to determine if additional cancellations may be required.”
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